Inspired by Chevrons Friday Flickr Feature #3

Today's Flickr feature is a sweet little outfit with chevrons on the bottom. I think chevron pants are little harder to pull of than a chevron shirt but it works perfectly in this combo. Perhaps because the top is more busy than the chevrons? And the color palette is right up my alley! Again, I love neutrals when paired with bright colors. <3

Thanks for sharing Karen!

  Please come and share your chevron projects with us in the Inspired by Chevrons Flickr group. You could be the next to be featured! Any kind of chevron project is welcome...the only requirement is that it is made by you!

Bubble Pocket Shorts pattern flip

Is anyone else flipping out over the Flip this Pattern series at Frances Suzanne? I know I am.

Each month a new pattern to flip...and prizes. Woohoo! Since I tend to flip most of the patterns I sew with in one way or another this a THE contest for me. Even if I never win it still gives me an excuse to exercise my creativity...and an excuse to purchase these awesome patterns ;)

June's "Flip this Pattern" is the Bubble Pocket Shorts by Elegance & Elephants. I love, love, love this pattern! I really think it is perfect just the way it is, but couldn't resist trying to flip it anyhow. Here is my first creation!

For some silly reason I took the shot above after all the others but didn't iron first. Doh!

The classic style because it is so versatile. Have I said that I love this pattern?

 First of all...the pockets. I changed the pockets quite a bit here.

I gave them a rounded pocket opening and added piping. The final shape of these pockets is quite different from the original pockets.

I also added a little self-bound petal cuff in lieu of the straight cuffs. The self-bound petal cuffs are of my own invention and a tutorial for them can be found here.

The last little touch was the flat front which I love. The bubble pockets stand out all the more this way.

Now, I'm not crazy about this shot but I have to show our little lady visitor.

Isn't she cute?

I will also be adding these to the Shorts on the Line Series from Imagine Gnats.

   Now that deserves a little dance :)  

Inspired by Chevrons guest: Rebel & Malice

Today we have guest Rebel & Malice as part of the Inspired by Chevrons series. Melissa is a very talented sewist, and blogger, and mom of five super cute kids. Her creative projects include great stuff like this vintage 1920's inspired dress and tutorial.

How adorable is that dress? She has a tutorial for how to make the headband too. Now, with that being said you have to go see the awesome dress she made for the Inspired by Chevrons series. Here's a little sneak peak at what she made. 

It is from a pattern she made herself! Great job Melissa! Also, she has promised a tutorial to come...so you just might want to start following her blog too. I know I am!

Please keep sharing the chevron love and  add your chevron projects in the Inspired by Chevrons Flickr group. I will continue to feature projects from the Flickr group here on my blog. Don't be shy; anything sewn that has chevrons is fair game!

Peep hem dress: free pattern and tutorial

Remember my knock off of the peep hem dress? (see the knock off here) Well today I am going to show you how I made it!

I have a pattern available for download in size 5 from Google docs here, or if you prefer, PDF Archive here.

*Please note that the previews do not always format correctly. To view correctly you will need to download the pattern.*

This pattern is intended for knit fabrics. It will work best with light to medium weight knits. If using a serger press all seams to the back unless otherwise indicated. If using a sewing machine press all seams open unless otherwise indicated. The stretch of the fabric should be across the width on all pieces.

All seam allowances are 3/8" unless otherwise indicated.

Materials: 

pattern
2/3 (58 inch wide fabric) to 3/4 (44 inch wide fabric) yard your main fabric
1/4 yard coordinating fabric
1/3 yard lightweight fabric for underskirt
coordinating thread
sewing machine and/or serger
fabric marker or chalk
ruler
cutting mat
rotary cutter
scissors
sewing pins

Helpful terms:

Baste - temporary stitching, using a longer stitch, used to hold pieces in place and is removed after permanent stitches are in place.

Staystitch - a line of stitching just inside the seam on curved edges intended to stabilize the fabric and keep it from distorting.
Stitch in the ditch - sewing technique that involves sewing in the seam line. This technique works great to hide your top stitching while securing your fabric underneath. 

First, download the pattern, print at 100% (scaling off), make sure your squares measure 1", and tape together.

Cut out your pattern and trace bodice pieces on to your knit fabric making sure to cut on the fold. The skirt pieces are cut according to measurements listed at the bottom of the pattern.

Use the measurements provided at the bottom of the pattern to cut out your neckband and armband pieces.

Sew the front bodice to the back bodice at one shoulder with right sides together (RST). Press seam to back. Staystitch the neck opening.

I am going to show you one way of attaching the arm and neck bands. There are many different ways to accomplish this and the technique you use should depend on fabric type, fabric weight, and pattern style.

Serge, or sew using a narrow zig-zag stitch, the neckband to the neck opening (RST). Press seam toward neckband.

Now sew together (RST) the shoulder and neckband at opening. Press seam to back.

Fold the neckband over the seam and to the wrong side of the fabric. Press and pin in place.

 

I chose not to sew my neckband down at this point because I used a twin needle and wanted to minimize the how many times I had to rethread my machine. If you are not using a twin needle to topstitch you can sew the neckband down with a zig-zag or stretch stitch at this time.

Repeat the same process to attach the armbands - staystitch, attach to arm opening with RST, sew armbands and bodice side seams RST, press seams to back (or if using sewing machine then press seams open).

Fold armbands over seams and to the wrong side of the fabric. Press and pin in place. Do this for both arms. Topstitch your armbands (and neckbands if you waited like me) closed by stitching in the ditch. Trim excess fabric close to the stitch line.

 For the top skirt layer, sew the sides (short ends) RST. Press seams to back.

Fold the bottom hem up 1", wrong sides together, and press. Fold the hem up another 1", press, and topstitch.

Mark the center of your front and back pieces at the top raw edge. Baste around the top raw edge of your skirt piece but do not overlap your stitches. Pull on your loose bobbin thread ends to gather until your width matches that of the bodice waistline. Alternatively, you can use your serger to gather.

To cut your underskirt pieces start by drawing a line 16" long (horizontal). Mark the center at 8". Draw a vertical line, perpendicular to the first,  at the center mark 11" high. Now draw a 12" line centered on the vertical line and parallel to the first. Then draw a line from the right end of your 12" down to the right end of your 16" line. Repeat this for the left side. Your pieces should be trapezoids like in the image below.

Sew the sides of the underskirt with RST. Press seams to back.

 

Sew the sides of your peep hem with RST. Press seams to back. You will have a tube of fabric now. Fold the tube in half with wrong sides together and press.

Place your peep hem over the bottom edge of your underskirt, aligning the raw ends, and matching side seams and center marks. Stitch peep hem to underskirt and press seam up toward the underskirt. Topstitch the seam in place.

Now flip your gathered top skirt inside out. Place your underskirt piece over your top skirt piece. The right side of your underskirt will be against the wrong side of your top skirt. Align side seams and center marks. Baste together.

Next, place your skirt pieces over your bodice, aligning raw waistline edges. Match up your side seams and center marks. Pin like crazy. 

Sew your skirt and bodice pieces together at the waistline and you are done. Yahoo! Do a dance!

Oh, and by the way, in case you were wondering, that is a stamp on her forehead...that she put there herself. She wanted it in the pictures and did not want to wash it off. Kids...sheez.